Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and the Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas exited Thursday night’s game after a frightening collision at first base in the top of the fifth inning.
The incident took place as Muncy sprinted toward first base on a ground ball. Both players attempted to adjust their paths near the bag, but ended up moving in the same direction and collided violently, sending them crashing to the ground.
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Following the collision, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo noted that pitcher Ryne Nelson was slow to get off the mound to cover first base. Nelson later accepted blame for the play and went directly to the clubhouse to check on Vargas after Arizona’s 3-2 win.
“That bothers me. We’re going to tighten that down. We talked about that as it happened, we talked about it as the game was ending, and in my office. So we’ve gotta tighten that down. We have been showing a vulnerability to getting over and covering 1st base, and that’s not who we are,” manager Torey Lovullo said.
Nelson admitted he felt horrible about the collision, as he could have done something to avoid both players getting injured.
“I failed to do my job in a big spot, which ended up with Vargy getting taken out of the game, so I’m pretty disappointed in myself for that,” Ryne Nelson said.
“I try to take pride in doing the little things right and fielding my position, covering first base, and watching a teammate and a friend get taken out of the game like that, it was very disappointing. And knowing that I could have done something to make that not happen doesn’t feel good.”
Fortunately, both Max Muncy and Ildemaro Vargas’ test results came back negative. Muncy passed concussion protocol, but he won’t be in Friday’s lineup. Vargas underwent X-rays of his thigh, ribs, and neck that revealed no significant injuries.
Diamondbacks manager explains how Max Muncy and Ildemaro Vargas could have avoided the collision
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo pointed to the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman, Freddie Freeman, to explain how Max Muncy and Ildemaro Vargas could have avoided the collision.
“I think a 1st baseman, somebody like Freddie Freeman, would slide feet first and give way to the runner, who’s probably going to be standing up… That would have been the way to avoid that situation.”
“And I’m thinking Max [Muncy] probably thought that [Ildemaro] Vargas was going to slide, and then it’s at the point of no return. They just couldn’t get out of the way of each other.”
After the game, Max Muncy told reporters that both players might have been confused about which direction to go to avoid crashing and “both went the wrong direction.” Vargas said via translator Alex Arpiza that he thought it was a foul ball and was just trying to make the play.
Edited by Shyam Kamal